Jacksonville Florida - Suzanne Bass,
Personal Injury Lawyer

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT

In most accidents there is an at fault driver who was negligent or careless in the control of the automobile he or she was driving. A claim for personal injury can be filed against the negligent drivers insurance company. Injuries suffered as a result of automobile accidents can be severe and life altering. The most common injuries are to the neck and back such as a herniated or bulging disc, nerve damage, broken or dislocated bones, brain or head injury and spinal cord injuries. Sometimes the injury is so severe that wage loss results from the inability to work. I understand that your immediate concern in an automobile personal injury is to get your medical bills paid or to reimburse you for lost wages. It is also important to make sure the insurance company pays for your damages quickly and appropriately. The consequences of a serious motor vehicle accident can have a catastrophic impact to your life and may further result in injury from mental anxieties such as depression, pain and suffering and the general loss of the ability to enjoy life as you once knew it.

One of the byproducts of Jacksonville's mushrooming growth has been a significant increase in the number of cars and trucks on Jacksonville's highways and, thus, an increasing number of serious automobile accidents are taking place. If you have been involved in an automobile or other vehicle accident that was, in your opinion, caused by the negligence or carelessness of the other driver you will need the experience and knowledge of an accident attorney. It is very important that your legal rights are immediately protected. It is very important that you speak to an accident attorney before giving a statement to the insurance company. Finding the right attorney who will be on your side and who will work to protect your rights and not the rights of the insurance company is my pledge. I am experienced in representing people involved in automobile or vehicle accidents resulting in personal injury and I am waiting for your call.

SEMI-TRUCK ACCIDENT

How many times have you seen a commercial truck, tractor-trailer or semi-truck traveling at an excessive rate of speed? One of the most terrifying experiences anyone can have is to be in an auto accident with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer. The numbers of semi-trucks are increasing on Jacksonville's roads and highways to keep up with the growth in Jacksonville and across the State of Florida. In an accident situation the semi-truck usually wins.

The permanent injuries that can result from an auto accident with a truck can result in significant financial losses such as unpaid medical expenses and wage loss. The law provides an injured person with the right to recover his or her damages against the responsible party. Such damages include medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses or other economic losses. Injured individuals are also entitled to recover for their pain and suffering and for mental health treatment. The spouse of an injured person may recover for the loss of services of his or her spouse.

The owners of semi-trucks are sometimes large corporations which start an investigation after an accident, immediately. The trucking company and insurance company will try to limit the recovery of the person who is severely injured to the absolute lowest possible amount. Insurance companies for large trucking corporations have vast experience and will work immediately and diligently to minimize the recovery to an injured person. Therefore it is important to have an attorney or lawyer with considerable experience representing you in dealings with the insurance company. I am experienced in representing people involved in auto accidents with semi-trucks or tractor trailers and I am waiting for your call.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Motorcycles make up a mere 2% of all registered vehicles in the United States though motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to suffer death or serious bodily injury in an accident as opposed to a passenger car accident. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents regularly occur because automobile drivers are negligent or careless in maintaining a proper lookout for motorcycles. Unfortunately in an accident between a motorcycle and an automobile the motorcycle generally looses the battle. These types of collisions are all too common on our highways and roads. It is also an unfortunate fact that the investigation of motorcycle accidents is made more complicated by the inherent bias of law enforcement officers and the public against motorcycles and their drivers. Studies have shown that 20% of motorcycle crashes result in head or neck injuries. Head injuries involving motorcycle accidents are often severe. In addition to head injuries other common motorcycle accident injuries are broken or dislocated bones, herniated discs to the neck or back or spinal cord injuries. The law provides an injured motorcycle driver or passenger with the right to recover his or her damages from the negligent or careless party responsible for the accident. You may be entitled to recover medical expenses, lost wages, expenses for pain and suffering and other emotional damages such as depression.

Most motorcycle crashes happen on short trips of less than five miles long and occur just a few minutes after starting out. Studies have shown that most motorcycle crashes occur when riders are riding slower than 30 miles per hour. Analysis of statistics reveal that almost every single motorcycle accident ends up in a physical injury, some of which can, of course, be catastrophic.

INSURANCE DISPUTES

Do you need help in resolving a dispute with an insurance company? Americans are bombarded by insurance companies trumpeting their claim to be a good neighbor, be on your side or as the GEICO gecko promises to help save you money. Last year insurance companies collected trillions of dollars in premiums from their customers. Unfortunately, in some cases, when it comes time to make a claim under an insurance policy the hassles, the excuses and the runaround begins. Doesn't it seem that the average insurance company looks for ways to deny a claim than to honor a claim.

Many people injured in automobile or truck accidents need medical treatment or help with lost wages while they are out of work. Coverage for medical expenses and lost wages comes under personal injury protection (PIP) as Florida law requires everyone to have, at least, $10,000.00 PIP protection. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to terminate PIP coverage before medical treatment for an injury has been completed. Sometimes insurance companies will require an examination by their doctor to say that nothing is wrong and thus treatment should stop.

Florida is a no-fault insurance state which means that, initially, for the purpose of treating physical injuries, fault is not placed on either party, and each driver makes a claim to their own insurance company. No-fault auto insurance does not mean that an injured person cant collect compensation from a faulting persons insurance company.

If you have been involved in an automobile or truck accident it is very important that you call your insurance company as soon as you possibly can after the accident. Be very careful to read and review the conditions and coverage of your particular insurance policy, most particularly those areas which are excluded. Be sure to ask your insurance agent about uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage pays compensation to you, as an insured, when you have been injured from the fault of someone else who has insufficient or no liability insurance to pay you for your loss.

Every avenue of liability coverage regarding an insurance claim will be pursued in order to maximize recovery for a personal bodily injury.

PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS

A pedestrian is injured in an automobile accident every 7 minutes. On average, in our country, a pedestrian is killed in an accident every 109 minutes. A person only needs to spend an afternoon at a busy Jacksonville intersection to understand the risks faced by pedestrians who cross or walk along side the busy streets of Jacksonville, Florida.

Most accidents involving pedestrians take place because drivers of automobiles are not sufficiently vigilant in maintaining a lookout for walkers and runners. These accidents take place despite the caution generally exercised by pedestrians.

According to the law, pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way. It is all too often, however, that drivers of automobiles fail to stop or yield to a pedestrian or bike rider.

It is no secret that in Jacksonville automobile drivers continue to get more aggressive and as traffic increases impatience and road rage often results thus it may cause the pedestrian to pay the price. If you or one of your family members has been injured by an automobile or truck while walking or running please contact Suzanne Bass who often represents pedestrians who suffer personal physical injuries.

WRONGFUL DEATH

All states authorize certain and specified surviving family members to be compensated for their damages, including the loss of financial support.  Non-economic losses such as loss of the love and care or enduring pain are recoverable.

A death caused by a negligent action or an intentional reckless action of another person or corporation is considered a wrongful death. In Florida certain specified surviving family members may initiate a cause of action for wrongful death against the negligent or intentional party who caused the untimely death. The Florida Wrongful Death Act, F.S.A. section 768.17, sets forth the public policy of the state: to shift the losses resulting when wrongful death occurs from the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer. The Act creates a new and independent cause of action in the statutory beneficiaries.

Determining the appropriate value of a claim for "wrongful death" and for the estate's claim is not easy. An evaluation of the nature and extent of the injury which led to the person's death, the economic losses that are recoverable, and the liability issues relating to the situation are undertaken.

There are many fine attorneys who can represent you. However, the right attorney is the one who is not only competent to handle the case but the attorney with whom you feel you can have the right working relationship. Since insurance companies have vast experience in evaluating personal injury claims and often seek to pay the lowest settlement possible, it is important to have a person with experience representing you and who will be prepared to institute litigation on your behalf.

DOG AND ANIMAL BITES

More than 4.7 million people in our country are bitten by dogs on an annual basis and approximately one out of every six bites is serious enough to require medical attention. Owners of dogs, regardless of the breed of dog, can be held liable for injuries suffered when a bite or attack occurs.

All residents of the City of Jacksonville enjoy a statewide, Florida law that sets forth, a dog owner is strictly liable under most circumstances for injuries caused by their dog (or other animal). This type of liability is called strict liability. Strict liability means that there is liability without fault. The basis for strict liability is that those who engage in certain kinds of risky activities due so at their own risk and are responsible for the damages that can foreseeably result from that activity.

Florida's law of strict liability for dog bites states: the owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners knowledge of such viciousness.

Everyone has seen the shocking headlines reporting a savage attack to a child or even to the owner. Suzanne Bass, local personal injury attorney, can help you with your dog bite case. She can help recover full compensation for all of your damages such as medical bills, surgery bills, reconstructive surgery and even damages for mental distress.

BICYCLE ACCIDENTS

Bicycle injuries make up 2 percent of all the people injured in automobile accidents in our country. More than 47,000 bicycle riders have died in auto accidents in the USA since 1932 according to the National Center of Statistics and Analysis. A person only needs to speak with an experienced cyclist to understand the risks faced by a bicycle involved in an accident. Unfortunately bicycle accidents regularly occur because drivers of automobiles are not on sufficient lookout for bicycles.

Bicycle injuries can be severe and debilitating resulting in significant financial loss to the victim. Damages may include unpaid medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses and other economic losses. Individuals are also entitled to recover for pain and suffering caused by the injury.

Insurance companies are as hard at work limiting the recovery to bicycle accident victims as they are to other injured people who get hurt as a result of a negligent or careless driver of an automobile. Discuss your claim with an experienced attorney, Suzanne Bass, without any charge or obligation.

PREMISES LIABILITY

An owner or occupier of a property is usually the responsible party and thus liable for accidents and injuries that take place on that property. Everyone owes a duty to provide safe premises for their employees, customers or visitors. Premises liability law concerns itself with making a claim for personal injuries against the owner or occupier of the property when an injury takes place on their premises. Have you tripped and fallen? An invitee is a person who is invited on to the physical premises of another such as a customer in a store. Every business owner who invites the public on to their property makes an implied promise that the property will be safe for you to be on the premises.

Sometimes an injury can occur on the premises of someone who has merely consented for the other to be present. A licensee is the person who enters the property for his own purpose with the consent of the owner. Property owners are required to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition and to protect against known and unknown hazards.

Was security inadequate? Often people are injured in parking lots of apartment complexes or stores by a criminal because of inadequate security. Generally speaking store owners know or should know that crime is a problem in their area. Every person has a responsibility to use common sense when on the premises of another. What this means is that a visitor must exercise what is called reasonable care for their own safety. The comparative fault system applies in personal injury cases which means that damages in an injury can be reduced if the injured person is partially responsible for some of the injury. In other words a customer in a store should avoid stepping through a large puddle of water if you see it in time to go in another direction. Suzanne Bass is committed to helping you obtain compensation for all of your injuries, including pain and suffering, if you have suffered from a physical injury on the premises of another.

ACCIDENTS

Auto/car accidents, truck collisions and motorcycle accidents are examples of how a single event, happening in a split second, can change a person's forever. Accidents may result in serious and permanent personal injuries, including head injuries, brain injuries, herniated or bulging discs, fractures, ankle injuries, neck injuries, knee injuries and back injuries. The Law Office of Suzanne Bass is committed to protecting the rights of the injured and helping families manage the physical, financial and medical situations that come with life changing or fatal accidents. Clients who choose The Law Office of Suzanne Bass receive direct one on one benefit of experienced attorneys. Clients will enjoy free initial consultations, contingent fees (no fees until a favorable disposition is achieved) and personalized attention.


PERSONAL INJURY

In a claim against the person or company responsible for what happened that caused or contributed to an accident, personal injury is described as any harm caused to a person, such as a broken bone or scarring from cuts. Personal Injury also refers to the harm that often results from the pain and suffering or what is sometimes called non-economic damages. Lost income from missing work or becoming disabled from working is another recoverable damage if the injured person was a wage earner at the time of the accident. Sometimes a sickness or death results from the negligent action. The Law Office of Suzanne Bass can help in answering questions and offers guidance in what may often be a complicated situation with insurance adjustors and health care providers. Often the insurance company for the individual that caused the accident will start an investigation immediately. It is not uncommon for an employee of the insurance company to show up at the hospital seeking a recorded statement. Remember that it is the insurance company's goal to limit the recovery and to pay the least amount possible. Generally speaking there is no need to rush. An injured person may decline to answer questions until they have had the benefit of consulting with an attorney.


SLIP and FALL

How many times have you seen something broken and spilled on the floor of the grocery store? You are lucky to see the spill in time to avoid the area but what if the spill is not obvious or you were so engaged in your shopping that you didn't see it? A slip and fall can occur under the simplest of circumstances and may cause a serious personal injury. Thousands of people are injured in personal injuries known as ?slips and falls? or ?fall down? accidents. This area of the law comes under what is known as ?premises liability?. These cases can be very complicated when trying to determine fault. They are sometimes difficult because the property owner and the injured person can be held to varying degrees of responsibility for the fall. The property owner has a duty to the invited public to maintain safe premises and each one of us has a commensurate duty to watch where we are stepping. When a slip and fall occurs it is the better practice to inform the property owner and make an accident report. This is useful to record the conditions that caused the fall in addition to other relevant information such as lighting and facts leading up to the fall. Comments by those who saw or helped after the fall may be useful at a later time. Seek prompt medical attention if an injury results from a slip and fall. The Law Office of Suzanne Bass offers legal assistance in helping to analyze the circumstances of a slip and fall and in offering the legal help you may require.